Follow-up of the enrolment test (I-test)

The research project will, among other things, carry out psychometric evaluations and norm updates of the enrolment test (the I-test), which is used by the Swedish Defence Conscription and Assessment Agency for selection and admission processes to the Swedish Armed Forces and to other professions and programmes requiring specific suitability.

The Swedish Defence Conscription and Assessment Agency is responsible for selection and admission processes primarily for the Swedish Armed Forces’ wartime organisation, but also, for example, for police training and other professions and programmes with specific suitability requirements. These selection and admission processes assess physical, psychological and cognitive abilities in order to make decisions regarding the selection and placement of individuals.

Aptitude testing has a long tradition in selection contexts, as aptitude has been shown to be one of the most stable and general predictors of performance in both education and work. The I-Test is an abbreviation of the enrolment test, a term that has been used since the 1940s for the aptitude tests applied in enrolment to basic military training within the Swedish Armed Forces.

The Swedish Defence University has, from 2017 to 2024, been commissioned by the Swedish Defence Conscription and Assessment Agency to develop a new I-Test. In May 2025, the new test, I-Test 2025, was introduced for all selection procedures conducted by the Agency. The Swedish Defence University has now been tasked with following up and further developing the I-Test. An agreement has been concluded between the Swedish Defence Conscription and Assessment Agency and the Swedish Defence University on how the work on the I-Test will proceed in five-year cycles.

Within the Swedish Defence University’s current assignment, i.e. 2025–2029, we will, among other things, conduct psychometric evaluations and norm updates. Studies are also planned on construct validity, in terms of alignment with similar tests, as well as on the predictive validity of the I-Test. In addition, further piloting of subtests and individual items will be carried out.

Key facts about I-Test 2025

I-Test 2025 is a newly developed aptitude test produced by the Swedish Defence University on behalf of the Swedish Defence Conscription and Assessment Agency. It is based on the dominant theory of intelligence, which highlights general intelligence (G) and the broad specific abilities Gf (fluid/logical ability), Gc (crystallised/verbal ability) and Gv (visuospatial ability), and it has been developed using modern test theory. The test comprises six subtests, two for each broad specific ability, each containing three to four parallel versions.